Road-pavement



{No Model G; R, BOWEN. ROAD PAVEMENT.

No. 521,364. Patented June 12,1894.

//v VENTOI? W/ TNE SSE S A TTORNEYS.

ms NATIONAL LITHOBRAPHING COMPANY.

WASHINGTON. b. c.

I UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFIcE.

GEORGE R. BOWEN, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

ROAD-PAVEM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,364, datedJune12,1894.

Application filed August 17, 1893.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. BOWEN, of San Antonio, in the county ofBexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement inRoad-Pavements, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of roadpavements, and has for its objects to provide a novel, simple andcomparatively inexpensive method and means for the speedy and convenientconstruction of a road bed, which will be smooth, durable, easy totravel upon, be readily repaired, avoid becoming slippery, that will notout into ruts but preserve its normal condition, that will shed water ina large degree but retain a proper amount of moisture, and be non-liableto displacement by the action of frost.

To these ends, my invention consists in the peculiar construction of asectional supporting base for a road bed, and the combination of partsto produce a complete pavement, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the improved road pavement incomplete form. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a bed piece that is aportion of the improved road ,pavement; and Fig. 3 is an enlargedtransverse sectional view of a road bed in part, showing details ofnovel construction which indicate the improvement.

The bed pieces A, that in sufficient number afford a base for the topdressing A of the road, each consist of a rectangular plate of castiron, having a suitable thickness, strength to resist fracture andeconomy in cost of construction being considered. The similar bed piecesA, should each have a considerable area to adapt them to remain asplaced on the earth, and avoid a rocking action. Each bed piece has itsupper surface numerously cupped, said cavities a, being .integrallyformed with the lower or base portion, and preferably these cups, thatextend throughout the area of the bed piece, are produced as indicatedin Figs. 2 and 3, consisting of rows of rectangular depressionsresulting from the Serial No. 483,347. (No model.)

integral formation of two series of vertical ribs b, c, that are formedat right angles to each other, and extend an equal height from the baseportion.

While the area of the bed pieces A, considered individ ually may bevaried in proportion, it is found that a width of two feet and length ofsix feet for each piece will give the best results, as they can then beconveniently handled, and greater expedition in the placing of the samewill be attainedthan if smaller pieces are used. With regard to thedepth and area of the similar cavities a, it is preferred to make theseeach about one-half of one inch deep, and one and one-half inchessquare.

In the formation of a pavement with the bed pieces A, it is essentialthat the earthy foundation be first graded, and rendered compact by anysuitable means, the ground being properly arched in cross section of theroad bed to adapt the finished pavement to discharge water at the sides,from the crown or center of the road. The bed pieces A, are deposited onthe graded earthy bed B, with their cupped faces uppermost and theiredges in close contact, all being bound together at their edges, withstaples such as d, that are firmly driven into holes formed along theedges of the bed pieces at such points as will locate them in pairsoppositely, for the introduction of the staples.

Upon the iron bed pieces A, when in position, a coating of small shells,or preferably offine gravel is spread, which is evenly distributed, soas to perfectly fill the cavities a, and form a stratum of gravel abovethe bed pieces about two inches in depth, this gravel dressing that may,if preferred,be compacted by the use of a heavy roller, provides thewearing surface for the pavement, which extends from a proper curbing O,at each side of the road, affording a fine smooth thoroughfare, thatwill be capable of sustaining the impact of heavy or light vehicles. Asthe gravel is embedded within the cavities a, and over the staples d,the latter are prevented from vertical displacement, and the entirearched iron structure that is the base for the Wearing surface of theroad is maintained intact.

It will be seen that the construction of a road pavement as hereindescribed, reduces the first cost to a minimum, obviates the need offrequent repairs, facilitates the work of repair by permittinganyportion of the road to be removed and quickly replaced, and provides aroad that will not be liable to cut into ruts.

Owing to the comparatively small area given to the cavities a, the bondbetween the gravel surface and the bed pieces A, is soon produced by aconsolidation of the gravel therein, and in case the cell walls are atany time exposed to wear by the removal of the surface dressing, thesmall area of the cavities a, will prevent the jolting of a vehicle, thewheels of which engage with the ribs 1), c.

W. R. OWEN, J NO. J. RHODES.

